Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay: Reaching the Pinnacle of Success
By Kathy Hosler
Photos provided by Pinnacle Pets Resort
Success doesn’t happen by accident. But, family owned and operated Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay Pet Resort is a shining example of what you can achieve when you start with a dream and are willing to work until you make that dream a reality.
By anyone’s standards, Steve and Marie Robinette already had very successful careers. Steve was in law enforcement and became the Chief of Police of Grove City, Ohio. Marie was a nurse working in the healthcare field. When they retired from their first careers, the Robinettes, who are lifelong pet lovers, decided to start their own business—a luxury pet resort.
“We did a feasibility study first,” says Marie. “Then we purchased land, hired an architect, and designed our facility.”
“Our first priority was health and safety for the animals in our care,” says Steve. “And, we wanted the facility to be easy to clean and maintain. To accomplish that, we chose to have epoxy floors throughout and to install a Clean Wise cleaning system. And for air purification, we decided to install six individual heating and cooling units which have ultraviolet light in the ductwork to help kill pathogens.”
Everything from the actual construction of the building to the choice of the cleaning products was well researched and geared toward the wellbeing and safety of the animals and the people who care for them.
In 2016, Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay Pet Resort, located in Grove City, Ohio, opened its doors. The resort offers boarding, daycare, training and grooming services, as well as a boutique in the lobby. As a family operated and owned business, their daughter Alex works as the general manager. She is the backbone of day–to–day operations, customer satisfaction and technical operations of their business.
Caring for around 100 pets per day takes a dedicated and well–trained workforce.
“Our staff is crucial to our success,” says Steve. “We hire for character and quality, and once they join our team, we train them to our high standards in pet care.”
“Pinnacle Pets has staff on site 24/7 to ensure the safety and care of our boarders throughout the night,” says Marie.
“We have a very good retention rate. One reason is that we treat our team members very much like family. We recognize and reward our staff members with gift cards when they go above and beyond. The kitchen is always stocked with a variety of snacks. We often order pizzas for the staff and hold parties for special occasions.”
When it comes to boarding at Pinnacle Pets, owners have several choices. The resort has basic and luxury suites. The beautiful luxury suites have full–view glass doors. They are furnished with raised orthopedic bedding and televisions. And each suite is equipped with a webcam so owners can view their dog any time day or night.
Boarding clients can also choose from á la carte activities and services. Their pet can participate in group play, one–on–one private play with a staff member, after–play snacks, stories and snuggles, and more.
Day boarding is also available. It’s tailored for dogs who need care during the day but do not like to socialize or join in group play.
Feline guests also get their fair share of pampering. The cattery has its own heating and cooling system. And each cat gets a spacious condo with a full–view glass door. The cats also get time for individual free play in the cattery, which features a climbing wall, tree houses and cubbies for the curious felines to explore. Outside are feeders that attract birds to entertain the cats and inside a beautiful fish–filled aquarium keeps them occupied.
Typically, 35 dogs a day participate in Pinnacle Pets daycare. The resort maintains a high human–to–dog ratio for the safety of their guests. Every dog is required to have an Enrollment Evaluation before they are accepted to join daycare play. These pups are divided into groups according to size and temperament.
All outdoor play areas have K9Grass for cushioning and cleanliness. There is a fabulous built–in outdoor splash pad and lots of play equipment. They also have a misting system, sunshades and wading pools. And, they have structured, fun activities to keep the dogs entertained, engaged and challenged.
Video cameras in all of the daycare areas allow owners to view their pets at play. And security cameras monitor the inside and outside of the facility.
Pinnacle Pets has a Board & Train program, and also offers one–on–one training in the owner’s home or in the facility. They cover everything from basic obedience to specific behavior issues and support training.
They also offer full service grooming in their state–of–the–art salon. It is a certified AKC S.A.F.E.(Safety, Assurance, Fundamentals, Education) Salon. This certification verifies that their salon meets or exceeds standards that promote safety and education. They provide everything from bath and brush–outs to full breed–specific grooms and spa services.
Owners can conveniently shop for most anything their pets need at the resort’s boutique. Treats, toys, collars, leashes, fresh baked cookies and more are available. They also feature items produced by local artisans.
Marie and Steve believe that communication with their clients is vital. “Owners get a handwritten report card that covers every day’s activities, the pet’s food and medication log, and lots of pictures of their pets at play,” says Marie.
“We are big on social media. Our Facebook and Instagram are loaded with pictures of the resort guests having fun. We post photos and other items of interest, such as pets wearing a party hat on their birthday, having fun in the splash pads, or dogs chasing bubbles.”
Their website, www.pinnaclepets.com, is a very important component of their business.
“Our website is the first point of contact for many new clients,” says Steve. “They can easily get information about all of our services, pricing, and vaccination requirements. And, they can take a virtual tour of our facility.
“We just finished our third year in business, and we often have a waitlist for our daycare and boarding—particularly at peak times. We had a 35% increase in business from year one to two, and a 26% increase from year two to three.
“We attribute a lot of our success to the amount of personal attention that we give to the pets and their owners,” says Marie. “We establish a relationship with them and make sure we are meeting their needs and the needs of their pets.”
A big dream and a mountain of hard work—that’s what it takes to reach the Pinnacle of success.